Fleet Management Solutions Deploys Iridium®-Based Asset Tracking, Monitoring and Management System
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BETHESDA, Md. - May 7, 2007 - Iridium® Satellite LLC is providing worldwide satellite data links for a new asset tracking, monitoring and remote management system, the Fleet Management Solutions (FMS) MLT-300i. FMS is an Iridium value-added reseller and manufacturer of GPS/All-Satellite mobile resource management systems in use in more than 50 countries.
FMS successfully completed worldwide validation of the Iridium-based MLT-300i system earlier this year. Included in the North Slope, Alaska portion of the validation was PGS Onshore (PGS), a major provider and recognized market leader of geophysical services to the international oil and gas industry. Moving forward, PGS expects to continue with full-scale deployment in all regions where time-sensitive and mission-critical field data is needed in near real-time.
"FMS designed the system to take advantage of Iridium's worldwide gap-free coverage and robust two-way, low-latency data links," stated Cliff Henley, CEO of FMS. "Customers such as PGS operate in areas where safety and security are of utmost importance. They require a solution capable of delivering mission-critical data in a matter of seconds anywhere in the world. Iridium, with its fully meshed network, has met these requirements."
The FMS MLT-300i provides near real-time tracking and management for fleets of all types and sizes. The system includes Quake Global's 9612 transceiver using Iridium's short-burst data service, along with FMS proprietary firmware and software. FMS firmware and software includes a GPS receiver, a plug and play universal OBD2/CAN BUS interface, multiple analog and digital inputs/outputs, and a dedicated serial port to accommodate in-cab two-way text and e-mail messaging. All data is transmitted through the Iridium satellite network to FMS Network Operation Centers (NOCs), and is communicated to users worldwide via a secure Internet browser interface. The MLT-300i also provides extensive asset monitoring and management functions.
All engine and asset trouble codes, fuel consumption, miles per gallon, hard breaking, power take-offs, engine rotations per minute (RPMs), oil pressure, and engine and coolant temperatures are standard on the OBD2/CAN BUS version of the FMS MLT-300i. Automatic alerts are immediately sent via the Iridium network when a trouble code or user-defined event occurs.
In addition to the speed of the FMS MLT-300i, PGS has found the system's boundary feature to be especially useful, according to Kevin Crozier, manager of survey and navigation for PGS.
"We now have a system which will instantly provide audible alarms via e-mail and text-enabled phones whenever a vehicle tries to enter a prohibited area, such as a pipeline right-of-way or well pad," Crozier said. "All commands, events, reports and alerts are transmitted, received and available within seconds. This is an absolute requirement, as our crews work in some of the harshest conditions in the world," continued Crozier.
Greg Ewert, executive vice president of Iridium Satellite, said, "We are seeing a tremendous surge in the demand for low-latency, highly reliable data communications services that can be used for applications similar to PGS. Iridium is ideal for users that have worker safety requirements as well as enterprise information needs. Through this capability, Iridium is pleased to be a critical tool in enabling PGS to most effectively manage remote field assets."
About Iridium Satellite
Iridium Satellite LLC (www.iridium.com) is the only provider of truly global satellite voice and data solutions with complete coverage of the earth (including oceans, airways and Polar Regions). Iridium delivers essential communications services to and from remote areas where no other form of communication is available. The Iridium constellation consists of 66 low-earth orbiting (LEO), cross-linked satellites and has multiple in-orbit spares. The constellation operates as a fully meshed network and is the largest commercial satellite constellation in the world. The Iridium service is ideally suited for industries such as maritime, aviation, government/military, emergency/humanitarian services, mining, forestry, oil and gas, heavy equipment, transportation and utilities. Iridium provides service to the U.S. Department of Defense. The company also designs, builds and sells its services, products and solutions through a worldwide network of more than 150 partners.
About FMS
Fleet Management Solutions, Inc. (www.fmsgps.com) provides complete mobile asset tracking and management solutions for multiple industries. Combining GPS technology with two-way satellite communications, FMS delivers a turnkey system that provides its customers with measurable improvements in asset utilization and labor productivity while reducing the risk of theft and cost of recovery. Headquartered in San Luis Obispo, Calif., FMS is a privately held corporation.
About PGS
PGS Onshore is a business unit of Petroleum Geo-Services (www.pgs.com), a technology-focused oilfield service company providing geophysical and reservoir services for the oil and gas industry. Established in 1991, PGS is headquartered in Oslo, Norway, and maintains offices in 22 countries. PGS Onshore provides seismic acquisition in the onshore and shallow-water transition zone environments.
